Reminiscence

The silence was...fierce, if you could somehow manage that. It was awkward, it was thick and intense... it was suffocating to the point where if I stuck my tongue out, I could taste it. It reeked of anger, confusion, resentfulness, and even a bit of regret. But I don't think it could compare to the stench in my mind from witnessing such a touching moment with Potter and his Indian whore. Like I needed to see that! I snorted derisively; and all those years of him meddling in my business? Oh, rest assured, I'm milking this incident for all it's worth soon enough.

The moment we walked out of Potter's cardboard box for a flat, I dropped her arm. It felt like hot coals against flesh, and I hurried away from the closeness like a plague. The woman gave me an intrigued look, but went back into her mental reverie while we walked somewhere. Inside me, the internal clock was ticking on a countdown. How long until she broke, since she no doubt would?

Three.

Two.

"I can't believe his bloody guts!" Ginny screamed like a banshee.

Figures - there we go. Thankfully for me and unfortunately for her, her screams don't kill. They were damn near going to leave me deaf, though. But really, maybe that would be a good idea; actually having to be here and listen to her inevitable rants about her good-for-nothing idiot of a husband doesn't sound too appealing. Weasley could have looked like a banshee, at any rate. A very pissy banshee. That face of hers blanched nicely to boot, barely two minutes after escaping Potter's humble abode. Her facial expression seemed saddened; the woman always wore her damn heart on her sleeve.

She never learns her lesson. And I'm not just talking about her blasted feelings.

We entered some sad excuse for a café, still not saying a word. I kept looking at her lips as she spoke after we had sat down, but her words weren't reaching me. She looked so damned beside herself about the whole fiasco that I would have been ill if I wasn't concerned about gagging and making a fool of myself in public. Her body language screamed at me enough all the nonsense bullshit about loving Potter that I clearly didn't want to hear about.

Maybe I really did get my deaf wish; sitting here, watching her lips quiver and splutter and kiss the air around her. My eyes drew a line to her ears; they were blood red. Furious, embarrassed; I didn't know which she was, probably both, but her ears looked very, very warm. Even her neck was crimson, obviously tense. A lick of anyone's tongue there would burn. Hmph...

When was the last time I saw her like this?

The halls were empty, again. And they would be for a while. Even though Hogwarts had opened its doors to students right after the war, with the promise of peace and rebirth, many of us didn't have the fortune of having that promise fulfilled. McGonagall, bent on duty as usual, said everyone who wished to return could do so – with the condition we repeat our previous year.

Our dear Headmistress' crackpot speech echoed my mind, "Because everyone deserves a proper education!"

Proper education my arse.

I couldn't help but notice just how desolated it all looked. Almost fit the mood of those who were around. Then again, it was an hour past bedtime. Lights hadn't gone out completely, but some of the halls weren't well lit anyway. But it's not like I expected more out of this ancient ass establishment, anyway.

I walked these same old halls, images of the war that summer in my head. And then it hit me.

Or, rather, something hit me. What the hell? It was dark, no one should be out here! Nevermind me being out here, of course. Hell, I had the right!

In a matter of seconds I heard a loud thud and tangling of robes, as if someone had got their feet snatched in them and fallen. Some kind of wail followed, like they were really dying when all their clumsy ass did was trip. All I felt was some hair brush against me as I staggered back against the wall.

"Fourty points from whatever house you bloody belong to--" What sort of idiot would walk after hours?

I took my wand out. I needed light: just so I could see who the hell needed some hexing.

"...Malfoy?"

"Lumos."

In front of me lay a heap of dark robes and an extremely hard to miss redhead among them.

"Weasley!" People knew me for not having a temper, but that was far from the truth. Especially now of all times. "What the hell are you doing walking the halls this late at night?! If you don't stop walking around like an oaf just like your brothers did, you'll end up killed!"

Ginny stared.

A pang came back.

I shouldn't have said that.

The lights were dark, but I swear I could see the expression on her face...

"Malfoy!"

Well fuck; I'd gone and nearly dozed off while staring at her lips. If they had been athletes, they probably would have ran miles by now with her endless tales of her Potter woes. I really didn't give a damn about what she had to say at the moment. She probably had spewed her heart out about how despicable old saint Potter was. Well, she didn't need a brain surgeon to tell her that, or maybe she did; I've been telling for years, and she was just noticing? Please.

"Did you hear a word I said?" Oh, the accusation was just oozing from her eyes and tone...

"Whatever your reasons are to confide in me about such matters of the...heart...are beyond me, Weasley."

The woman had the gall to glare back at me, like I was supposed to be interested in her tirade! Of course I didn't hear a word she said! Why would I possibly need to listen to how much she loved that buffoon? Really, if there was any other way that I could be somewhere other than sitting in a small café, staring ahead at a very characteristically disgruntled Ginerva Weasley, I would take the easy way out. I ought to. But I suppose it's nice to be in the company of someone who's finally realizing their distaste in supposed heroes.

That note on her desk earlier did look rather curious to me; my unsatisfied curiosity got the best of me, I'm afraid. And then curiosity turned into something much sweeter, much more morbid. I wanted to see the look on Weasley's face, and the awkwardness between her and Potter; that's what drove me to follow her. No I didn't give a damn about some rubbish of rectifying her situation. Hardly; I was far more interested in getting a front row seat to the inevitable show. I knew where she was headed; even an idiot wouldn't have missed that tiny point. The delightful thought of seeing Harry hurt, however small had been, drove me towards apparating to a place where I had every business being.

I assume the old Draco in me had awoken, if it ever really fell asleep to begin with. Sitting here, feeling my lips curl up at Potter's situation...hmm. Nope; it never did. The old Draco, new Draco; whichever - I would never miss a beat at being able to see some discomfort on the prodigy seeker and Hogwarts' poster child. At the moment I had thought it was a brilliant idea. A Weasley's temper, after all, could be just as entertaining as the late Weasley Brothers' fireworks gone awry.

The supposedly more mature Draco, however, was completely regretting it. Brilliant idea my well pampered Malfoy rear; the woman was leering at me like an explosion had damn near gone off in her eyes. I had a feeling that maybe, just maybe I'd bitten a lot more than I could chew with this whole situation. And why the hell was I being looked at as if it was MY fault?!

"Well, are you listening?"

"Hardly."

Weasley let out such an adorable grunt and crossed her arms under her chest like I'd denied giving her sweets. Charming. Just like that chest of hers. My eyes couldn't help but travel there, but I quickly tore them away. This isn't really the time to be staring at her chest; maybe later. If I just as much as breathed wrong, the woman would no doubt have my hide, and I wasn't fool enough to deny it. If I stared at her chest, I'm afraid a Dementor's kiss might be sweeter a punishment than Ginny's preferred methods of revenge.

Revenge...

"Weasel, what're you doing?" I said, breath jagged and heart racing. The girl was being irrational. Well hell, I was being irrational! Insulting her brothers probably wasn't the wisest thing to do, but I did it automatically. I always do. What if someone saw me? Especially now..

Ginerva Weasley, in her own firey outburst, pinned me against a wall and my brain was starting to lose control. Her grip on my robes was tight and her grip on my mind was even tighter. Like always...

Every. Single. Time; it happens. I try to tell myself I despise the girl, and it only works for a time. Especially then; her heaving breath was warm, moist on my chin. It smelled of ginger...probably nicked something from the kitchens, no doubt. But focusing on that threw me completely off guard; the girl swung her damn fist at me! I held onto some drop of awareness I had from hearing the air ripple for a fraction of a second before I grabbed her arm.

She'd gone mental! Weasley tried to punch me again, looking a little too thirsty for my blood! This blasted girl went from 0 to bloody bitch in two seconds. I knew she was too high on her rage, and I needed to get the hell away from her... NOW! By now I then I knew that her anger could make her do funny things; anyone who had an ounce of intelligence could realize that with one look at the red crown she has for hair on her head... But something was in her veins right now, and...whatever it was, it seemed to have blinded her to the point of shoving her nemesis against a wall and punching him like it was the thing to do!

That ginger kept me pinned here; her heat and fire and fury and intensity kept me grounded. Ginny Weasley was kicking me and slapping me with tears were running down her cheeks.. and at some point between my screams that she should stop, and that I was sorry for mentioning her dead brothers, and her own struggling, she ran out of energy and just...slumped there. Her breath was hot, and fast, and was coming out in short hiccups. She was slumped against my body, her chest heaving against my own. The beating of her heart would sync with mine every so often...She had cried herself to sleep.

The halls were dark.

And I couldn't push her away...

"Draco!"

That damned shrill voice of hers cut through my memories. She looked far better than when I last saw her four years ago, I must say. Her freckles were faint, almost gone. She'd grown into her own body as a woman. She looked business-like, in her clean cut, well ironed clothes, high red heels and a matching red purse to contrast her black knee-length skirt and coat. If I didn't know any better, I could almost believe she came from a well-off family. Almost.

At the thought of Ginny Weasley actually coming from such a background, I didn't know whether to laugh or shudder. The woman would never get anywhere in society with a temper such as hers. And to my relief, she wasn't. Otherwise I would've had to grow up suffering through her company, since my parents always said that connections should be made among the wealthy and powerful.

"Wease--.." a cough, "Ehm, Weasley. What is it you want out of sitting me here listening to your incessant wailing?"

It wasn't that I was an ass; I just wasn't going to give her the courtesy of being helpful for her tonight. I was courteous enough now because I would have to put up with her until I took the position as a Minister (I would not give her that), but I wasn't going to actually going to be...friendly.

"Why did you..?"

"Did I what? Stop beating around the bush."

"Back there, you saved me from embarrassment. You took me out of there.." Her eyes scanned my face as if it was some sort of unreadable diary, with a lock to which she had no key. "Why?"

I kept my silence. Honestly, I'm not sure why I did it. I just did. To tell the truth: I shouldn't have. It was a mistake. Sitting here with her and putting up with mild chit-chat obviously wasn't on my list of consequences from all of this mess.

"Well?"

"Must I explain my actions to you, Weasley? If I went off giving reasons about everything I do to everyone..."

The woman stared. Hard. But she gave up trying to figure it out, thankfully. At that point, she leaned back in her chair and confusion was replaced by a sly look that I knew perfectly well, one that I myself had even perfected. It was mischief, and it was not the fun kind. She started ignoring me, as if I was just an invisible panel through which she could see ahead, as if she was alone. She bit down on her pinky nail and frowned. I knew the look in her eyes - it was the look of hatred. Pure hatred.

"I want him to suffer."

"Pardon me?"

"I want my revenge."

Revenge...

"Draco, I need to tell you something."

Time had passed since that encounter in the halls, nearly a year now. I gave her a smile and wrapped my arms around her little waist. Ginny might not be the most beautiful thing on earth, with the perfect body and the amazing fashion sense, but she still had a way of reeling me in. She was hated by other girls, and it didn't bother her. Not because she was in any way beautiful, but because she was with Draco. Me. The war had changed some things among students, but old habits die harder than old rules. And yet here I was: I was in love with none other than a Weasley.

I kissed her cheek, and she moved her bag in front of her protectively.

"What is it, Ginny?"

She had never done that.

"I... Draco," her eyes looked sad, and worried. Preoccupation masked her pretty little face, not a hint of happiness to see me this time around.

"I need to tell you something."

"Can it wait? I have something to say, too."

For me to ever smile openly was a rarity. The only people who ever, ever saw that smile were now either dead or far away. But I'd learned in a few months to be able to give her that smile. I reached into my robes without her noticing, there was something I wanted to say... Something that would change...everything.

"No, it can't wait." she fidgeted, looked down, and shifted from foot to foot. The girl refused to look into my eyes.

I stopped.

"...Well?"

"I.." Ginny fidgeted some more, hiding herself with her bag. And her hand. "Well...It's over, Draco."

A glimpse of sun against something, against the rock on her ring finger, and it became obvious.

"I'm back with Harry, Draco..."

Ginny avoided my eyes, she turned on her heel, and forgot to even let me have my say. She let me standing like a bloody fool with a dumbstruck look on my face. All I could do was stare. He had dumped her twice, and she was back with him! And engaged! Good bloody Lord, TWICE! The masochistic little broad was back with the man who kept on hurting her, on excuses that he wasn't ready to commit, that the war had left him empty and hurt and confused. Yet, she went back to him like a little lamb every time he called!

TWICE.

I clutched the box inside my pocket, hiding my own pride away with the ring inside of it.

This is what happened every time I opened up an inch. Well...

Never again, Ginerva bloody Weasley. Not this time. Like they always say - what goes around comes around. I did it twice, what did she expect this time around? What did she want? She wanted revenge.

The images from that memory swirled inside my mind, and cold fury started bubbling unseen again. I'd forced myself to forget, forced the dirty little muggle lover out of my system...and she came crashing back. Why didn't I let her suffer through the repercussions of her actions?

"Revenge is a dish best served cold, Weasley."

She looked at me and smiled, almost innocently, yet I knew it was different. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.

"And that way it's so much sweeter, Malfoy."

I gave her a once over; she was too deep in her own plotting to try and read me. A smirk came back on my lips, hidden by the rim of my drink, while she stared at her own glass of firewhiskey. I had connections, I had witnessed the beloved Harry Potter screwing Ginny's assistant, and I had time.

Don't worry, little Lamb, you'll get your revenge. And I'll get mine.

Author's Note:

So here it is, the first chapter! After several days of plotting and going around on how to write what Draco had to say. I hope you enjoy it, and a reminder: Your words make me a better writer, and your feedback counts! So get off your tushie, log on, and review, please? It'd be highly appreciated.

Thank you to my beta, I really do not know what I'd do without you, honey. :3 Keep on being as amazing as you are.

Yes, Draco's an ass. But that's the way we all love him anyway.

Until then!

And seeing as it's only a few days until the next year, Happy New Year~ May all your wishes (hopefully) come true.